Albanese tight-lipped on US alliance talks; PM faces Pentagon pressure over potential US-China war
Anthony Albanese says Australia will use its military capability and diplomatic efforts to advance peace and security in the Indo Pacific, but will not broadcast private talks with the US.
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Anthony Albanese will not say what Australia would do in a US-China war over Taiwan, arguing the country uses its military capability and diplomatic efforts to advance peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.
Mounting pressure from defence officials in the Pentagon largely overshadowed the Prime Minister’s visit to Shanghai on Sunday, with Mr Albanese forced to push back on US calls for clearer commitments from Australia.
“Our aim investing in our capability, and as well investing in our relationships is about advancing peace and security in our region,” he said.
“That’s our objective, and that is why we invest in our region.”
The PM’s comments followed reports US undersecretary of defence Elbridge Colby wants clarity from allies like Australia and Japan about how they would respond in the event of conflict over Taiwan.
Mr Albanese said the alliance with the US was “very important,” but he would not be publicly divulging private conversations.
“By definition that’s in private … we engage in a mature way,” he said.
When asked if it was “reasonable” for the Pentagon to seek assurances from Australia on a contingency plan for Taiwan when the US has its own policy of “strategic ambiguity” on the issue, Mr Albanese said the question answered itself.
He reiterated Australia’s longstanding bipartisan support for the “status quo” in Taiwan, which is a self-governing democracy though is claimed by China as a province.
Mr Albanese said Australia did not support any “unilateral” action changing that situation.
China officially refuses to rule out the use of force to “reunify” Taiwan and analysts from the US have previously warned Beijing appears to be preparing for military options by 2027.
On Sunday Mr Colby defended the Trump Administration’s pursuit of broad military commitments, including increased defence spending, from allies even if some “might not welcome frank conversations”.
“As the department has made abundantly and consistently clear, we at DOD (Department of Defence) are focused on implementing the President’s ‘America First,’ common sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength,” he said in a post on X.
“This has been a hallmark of President Trump’s strategy – in Asia as in Europe where it has already been tremendously successful.”
Mr Elbridge said many of the US’ allies were seeing the “urgent need to step up” and “are doing so”.
“President Trump has shown the approach and the formula – and we will not be deterred from advancing his agenda,” he said.
On defence spending, Mr Albanese said his comments made in private were the same as his public statements.
“(Australia is spending) $57 billion over 10 years, we are increasing our defence spending by more than $10bn,” the PM said.
“We have contributed as well to the AUKUS already going forward, a billion dollars are being forwarded to help increase the industrial capacity in the United States, and will continue to invest in whatever we need to improve our capabilities.”
Asked if Australia was open to engaging with US on planning how capabilities, like the future AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines would be used in the region, Mr Albanese said the treaty with the US and UK was “very clear” regarding what the deal was for.
“We want peace and security in our region, we don’t change our position on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
While Mr Albanese is in China, back in Australia it is expected Beijing will surveil the joint military exercise Talisman Sabre, which officially started on Sunday near central Queensland.
The biennial exercise for allies is led by Australian and US forces, and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the government would “adjust accordingly” if China does monitor the event.
“It would be unusual for them not to observe it,” he said.
Mr Albanese started his first day in Shanghai with a walk along the famous Bund riverbank where he was joined by Socceroo great turned coach of Shanghai Port FC Kevin Muscat and his team.
The PM was joined by his fiancé Jodie Haydon as the group discussed the growing people-to-people links between Australia and China.
Mr Albanese then visited the headquarters of travel operator Trip.com where he signed a memorandum of understanding to boost tourism to Australia.
There were more than 860,000 visits to Australia from China in the year to March, with tourists spending more than $9.2bn.
Mr Albanese will attend a high-level business leaders lunch and steel decarbonisation roundtable in Shanghai on Monday before he travels to Beijing ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
The PM is due to remain in China until Friday, with a trip to the city of Chengdu also expected later in the week.
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Originally published as Albanese tight-lipped on US alliance talks; PM faces Pentagon pressure over potential US-China war
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